Monday Musings: Print vs. Audio Books

Every year, I have an established goal of reading at least two books each month. Usually, I surpass this with no trouble, thanks in large part to including audio as a method for reading new books.

I read one book each month--often a newer release--for book club. Sometimes the only version I can access is the audiobook through my library resources! I can listen and complete a book easily as I commute into my office three days each week, with a little extra listening time while working out or cooking dinner. I typically listen to a second book each month as well.

Sometimes these audiobooks are motivation to exercise, especially if I'm deep into a plot and I can't wait to find out what happens next. Often, they make my commute (especially traffic) more tolerable and even a relaxing part of my morning and evening.

Often, I read simultaneously by combining nonfiction and fiction in two different formats. I may listen to a nonfiction book--self-help or history--in the car on the way to work while reading a mystery or rom com before bed.

Which brings me to printed books. Or, rather, print and digital print books (because I often read on my Kindle). I still enjoy the ability to skim or linger over a passage in the printed format. If I'm reading something I want to reference (like a parenting resource), it is helpful to be able to make little notes or underline something important. It's also easy on my eyes at night to have a paperback or my light-adjusting Kindle. Here is the one I have.

I'll likely continue to speed through popular fiction on 1.25x speed audiobooks, while slowly absorbing other types of books in a print format. They both meet my needs in different ways and allow me to consume a lot of great written content that I might not otherwise be able to read!

How do you prefer to read, and what do you think of those new dramatized audiobooks with character actors and sound effects?

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